American Stereotypes

First of all we are assuming here americans as people who were born in United States of America, and not all American people (north america, central america and south america).

Stereotypes of Americans are ethnic generalizations and oversimplified images or ideas about American people, and are found in many societies worldwide. Remember americans here are defined as citizens of the United States. Stereotypes of Americans have been collectively internalized by societies, and are manifested by a society’s media, literature, creative expressions, and general public opinion. Some of the following stereotypes are more popular than the others, and some are not directed exclusively toward Americans. Most of the stereotypes are negative, but some are positive.Negative stereotypes of other cultures and social groups are common in virtually all societies.

American Stereotypes

Negative stereotypes

Materialism, overconsumption, and extreme capitalism

Perhaps the most popular stereotype of Americans is that of economic materialism. They may be seen as caring about nothing but money, judging everything by its economic value, and scorning those of lower socioeconomic status.

Uneducatedness, ignorance, and gullibility

Americans may be stereotyped as ignorant of all countries and cultures beyond their own. This stereotype shows them as lacking intellectual curiosity, thus making them ignorant of other cultures, places, or anything outside of their own lives or the United States.

Obesity

Among the most popular stereotypes is that Americans eat an excess amount of fast food, and are obese. With 33.8% of the population obese, of all the countries of the developed world, the United States has the highest rate of obesity. This is well reflected by the popular “fat American” stereotype.

Meanwhile in the United States of America

Racism and racialism

American people in general may be portrayed as racist or racialist, often discriminating against their minorities. Racism was a significant issue of American history and is still relevant today. Racialized society, racial classification, and the concept of race is a part of the American culture, where it is frequently used in political contexts. Historical racism continues to be reflected in socioeconomic inequality, and has taken on more modern, indirect forms of expression, most prevalently symbolic racism. Many people in the U.S. maintain some prejudices against other “races”.

Gun-loving, violent culture

Americans have a long historical fondness of guns and this is often portrayed by American media. A considerable percentage of Americans own firearms. The United States has one of the highest death rates caused by firearms in the developed world. The international media often reports American mass shootings, making these incidents well known internationally.

Mainland USA According to Common Sense

Environmental unconsciousness

Americans may be seen as reckless and imprudent people when it comes to the environment. They may be portrayed as lavish, driving high polluting SUVs and unconcerned about climate change or global warming. The United States has the second-highest carbon dioxide emission after China, and is one of the few countries which did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

Arrogance and boastfulness

Many people see Americans as arrogant people.Americans may be seen by people of other countries as arrogant and egomaniacal.American president Barack Obama said that America has shown arrogance, been dismissive and even derisive.American boys may be stereotyped as vain and promiscuous.

Unwarranted military intervention

Another stereotype is that Americans “want to be the world’s policemen”, believing that the entire world needs their help, even if it means military intervention and civilian casualties. This stereotype was most likely spawned from historical United States military interventions, which many people opposed.

Supernatural and paranormal

Americans may be portrayed as believing in the paranormal or supernatural phenomena, e.g. psychic powers, ghosts, haunted houses, UFOs, and exorcism.

American Stereotypes

Positive stereotypes

Generosity

A positive stereotype of Americans is that they are very generous. The United States sends aid and supplies to many countries, and Americans may be seen as people who are charitable or volunteer.

Optimism

Americans are seen as very positive and optimistic people.

Hardworking

Americans are stereotyped as hardworking people, whether in their jobs or other matters.

Volunteerism

De Tocqueville first noted, in 1835, the American attitude towards helping others in need. A 2010 Charities Aid Foundation study found that Americans were the fifth most willing to donate time and money in the world at 55%.

THIS ARTICLE ONLY PROVE THAT AMERICANS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ANTHROPOLOGY SINCE ANYBODY KNOW THAT AMERICANS AREN’T A RACE BUT AN ETHNICITY BUT EVEN FRENCH, ITALIANS, GERMANS, AND ALL OF THE REST OF EUROPEANS AREN’T A RACE LIKE THE AMERICANS

Denny, calm down. Why are you shouting? Apparently you do not know all the definitions of the word race: noun

1. a group of persons related by common descent or heredity.
2. a population so related.
3. Anthropology .
a. (no longer in technical use) any of the traditional divisions of humankind, the commonest being the Caucasian, Mongoloid, and Negro, characterized by supposedly distinctive and universal physical characteristics.
b. an arbitrary classification of modern humans, sometimes, especially formerly, based on any or a combination of various physical characteristics, as skin color, facial form, or eye shape, and now frequently based on such genetic markers as blood groups.
c. a human population partially isolated reproductively from other populations, whose members share a greater degree of physical and genetic similarity with one another than with other humans.
4. a group of tribes or peoples forming an ethnic stock: the Slavic race.
5. any people united by common history, language, cultural traits, etc.: the Dutch race.

“It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

chill dude! im proud to be an America these are just stereotypes so calm down (plus look up the definition of race) also America is awesome, America is not perfect but no country is so it doesn’t matter plus who cares what our stereotypes are if we like our country then we know it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks 🙂

As an American, I am so offended you have no idea! Kids don’t get guns until they’re at least twelve years old, and they’re only 140 lb by then. It’s not like we eat nothing but fast food. For the record, we only eat fast food three times a day. If people would just accept that we’re the best country in the world, we wouldn’t have to remind people.

Seriously though, I think those stereo types are right on the money… HA, Money!

Wow Garrett i’m from the USA too i’m 12 and my parents still say “no gun till you’re 50”, but my best friend’s 16 year old sister got a hunting gun for her birthday and i must be very skinny i am about 89 pounds. I already know i am a weirdo though.( I will only eat fast food once a week or it gets disgusting )

[…] No matter where you study abroad, people are going to want to know about the beliefs, experiences, and perceptions of your own country. While most of the time it’s the hot button issues that come up, those clue you in on what people think of the U.S. internationally. […]

As an american, I’ve always found it facinating to know how people from other countries, or other cultures really perceive us. Whether I agree, disagree, or choose to become defensive, offended, or take it as a compliment, is really not the point. It’s Sociology 101. Regardless of how we choose to feel or act regarding perceptions from others; whether there perceptions are correct, wrong, true/false.. whatever… They are perceptions. It’s what makes human beings.. well “human”.

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[…] American Stereotypes – National Stereotypes – First of all we are assuming here americans as people who were born in United States of America, and not all American people (north america, central america and south … […]